A MAN assaulted a receptionist at a four-star hotel whilst intoxicated because he refused to give him a cigarette lighter, a court heard.

James Vincent Oldham pleaded guilty to a single count of assault by beating when he appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court in Barrow on October 17.

Prosecutor Peter Kelly told the court Oldham – age 37 - was staying at The Belsfield Hotel in Bowness on September 28 this year when the offence took place.

Mr Kelly said: “The defendant has approached the receptionist and made inquiries about borrowing his lighter. The complainant said it was his own personal lighter and declined to give it to the defendant.”

The court heard Oldham then passed a comment back to the victim which was ‘inappropriate’ before kicking him to the right leg.

Mr Kelly said the receptionist described feeling ‘angry, humiliated and upset’ in his victim impact statement.

The victim suffered no injury as a result of the kick, the court heard.

Oldham answered no comment to all questions asked in a police interview, the court was told.

In mitigation, Andy Gallagher said: “He had been drinking when he asked the receptionist to borrow a lighter. He got upset, made a comment and there is then a coming together.  

“He says it was not an out-and-out kick. He said he went to trip the victim up. He accepts he should not have done that.”

The court was told Oldham was last before the court in 2021 and that he had not committed a similar like-minded offence against a person since 2016.

The chair of the bench said: “This was pretty inexcusable behaviour against a person just doing their job.”

As a result of Oldham’s plea to the offence at the first opportunity, magistrates imposed a band C fine of £120.

Oldham, of Co-Operative Street, Springhead, Oldham, was also ordered to pay compensation to the victim of £50, court costs of £85 and a £48 surcharge.